Indiana Hoosiers running back Roman Hemby speaks out after championship win
Indiana Hoosiers running back Roman Hemby is speaking out after the Hoosiers clinched the College Football Playoff National Championship for the first time against the Miami Hurricanes on Monday.
The Hoosiers came out on top with a thrilling 27-21 victory, and Hemby told "Good Morning America" he's still wrapping his head around the big win.
"I was in awe for a great deal of time. … I'm just so appreciative for everything," Hemby told ABC News' Robin Roberts. "My journey definitely wasn't the easiest, but I'm blessed by God to be in this position, and I'm just so happy to be here."
Hemby, a senior who transferred from the University of Maryland to Indiana University Bloomington last year, said his journey to the championships was due in part to Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, who led the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 record this past season.
"I just saw the winning formula," Hemby said. "Coach Cignetti, he had the blueprint. He put the people in places that needed to be put there to be successful … they gave me the chance to go there and we were able to get it done."
Hemby said he now considers his Hoosiers teammates, including quarterback Fernando Mendoza, his "brothers," whom he'll stay friends with for the rest of his life.
"I love them to death," said Hemby. "I'm so happy that we were able to finish it on the note like that. Those are the guys that I'll call my friends for the rest of my life."
He added, "When you got a guy like Fernando Mendoza on the field, you know that anything can happen in a positive way for your team and we had a testament. He's a testament to that and you know we were able to see what he can do on the field."
Hemby also credited Hoosier fans who "showed up and showed out all season," as well as his parents for their support.
"They definitely did everything that they could to make sure that I will be in this position today, so I wouldn't be here where I am without them, and I love them so much," Hemby said of his parents. "They make my life so much easier, so I'm just so appreciative and so happy that I got a great support system like this."
As the college football season wraps up, Hemby said he's looking forward wrapping up his collegiate career and hopes to play in the NFL.
"I have aspirations to play at the next level. I want to play in the NFL, so I'm gonna go full force into that," Hemby said. "But moving on from the season, I'll take on the grit, the determination, the battle of adversity, and then trusting God through the process, and I'll look up and see where I land. [I want] to show that, you know, I can do anything if I put my mind to it."
